December 18, 2010

Summer dreaming 1

I think yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far. Two days ago, we had a light dusting of snow.

I came across these photos, and I am already longing for the summer. I took these one day in late June this past summer. I had collected some flowers from the garden and from my sister's garden, as well as some of her tomatoes (mine came much later, and weren't as nice or as plenty).

We were having a dinner and I set the table outside. It was a lovely evening. It feels so long ago, as we approach the winter solstice.

While some are dreaming of a white Christmas, I have my  mind on other things entirely.













December 1, 2010

Giving thanks

I love everything about Thanksgiving. I always have. This year was no different. 

We hosted, as usual, and we had the usual suspects: my two sisters, their husbands and girls, plus my cousin Domo (seriously, that is his name!) and his wife Deb. We always share the cooking, and for some reason I am never honored with the job of doing the turkey. I've made my share of delicious turkeys in Sweden, let me tell you, but I'm never able to prove that to my family. The two worst things about not making the turkey are: 
1. Not having the turkey smell permeate the house
2. Not getting dibs on the turkey carcass for soup.

We (our house) were responsible for the starches and the salads: Mashed potatoes, roasted root veggies and two green salads. Early in the day, Ulf, Charlie and I had a great time chopping and peeling the potatoes and vegetables while listening to music. It was lovely. 

Finally, the guests and the turkey arrived and the house was filled with laughter and chatter and popping Prosecco bottles. Let the party begin!

When we sat down to dinner I was so flustered I had forgotten that I wanted to say my favorite ever blessing, the one I first heard years ago on the TV series Six Feet Under. Even though it is quite short and simple I couldn't conjure it up in my head! The blessing is from the Christmas episode, actually, when Keith first came to the Fisher's house for dinner to meet David's crazy family. It goes like this: 

For food in a world where many walk in hunger, for faith in a world where many walk in fear, and for friends in a world where many walk alone, we give you thanks, O Lord, on this Thanksgiving Day. (Note: Keith, of course, said Christmas).

I guess I'll have to save it for our Christmas dinner. 

Well I've been very chatty in this post. I didn't take nearly enough pictures, but maybe that's a sign that I was having too much fun. We ended up playing Balderdash until the wee hours. It was a superduper day. I have soooo much to be thankful for. 






The table


Me, getting my camera ready.


Charlie and his cousins: Grace, CJ and Sophia.


Drinks before dinner.


The girls after dinner.


Deb and Domo.